Ask the Experts: Will I Get My Full Social Security Benefit?

Q. I retired and took early Social Security benefits at age 62. Now that I’ve reached my full retirement age, 66, will I begin to receive my full benefit amount?

A. No, you will not. When you took your Social Security benefit at age 62, your monthly payments were reduced for the remaining years that you receive them. To learn more about early retirement benefits, go to the Social Security Administration online or call 1-800-772-1213.

There is one option for increasing your monthly benefit, although it is available only to people able to make a large upfront payment. Social Security allows people to repay all the early benefits they have collected, without interest, and then reapply for a higher benefit based on their higher age.

Source: Social Security Administration